Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:18 …give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Thought for the Day: Rev. Bruce Barkhauer is Director of the Center for Faith and Giving. It is the stewardship education ministry of the Office of General Minister and President (our denominational office in Indianapolis). Bruce will be at Cypress Creek Christian Church on the weekend of
Scripture: Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Thought for the Day: Yesterday saw my to-do list remain the same length all day. It was a crazy day in which meetings went much longer than I expected. From an early morning conversation to the last phone call a little after 8:00pm, everything took twice – if
Scripture: Psalm 68:3 (the Message) When the righteous see God in action they’ll laugh, they’ll sing, they’ll laugh and sing for joy. Thought for the Day: One of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott, said “…laughter is carbonated holiness” (Facebook post on August 17, 2013). I’ve been rolling those words around in my head, even saying them out loud more than once. Each time I do so, I find
Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 6:17 (the Message) So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. Thought for the Day: Last night, I was ironing a pair of pants to wear this morning. I must confess that I was a bit tired, but after ironing for close to five minutes, I
Scripture: Zechariah 9:12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. Thought for the Day: Just when you thought the prophet’s sharp tongue had condemned you to the place of no return, a word of hope appears. Though it might seem that the prophets enjoyed the harsh critique, that would miss the true yearning within the heart of
Scripture: Jeremiah 9:4-6 Beware of your neighbors, and put no trust in any of your kin; for all your kind are supplanters, and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer. They all deceive their neighbors, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongues to speak lies; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent. Oppression upon oppression, deceit upon deceit! They refuse to know
Scripture: Amos 8:4-7 Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the
Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:18 [And the Lord said] I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Thought for the Day: Rabbi Abraham Heschel spoke of how the prophet’s true greatness was found in his/her ability to hold God and humanity in a
Scripture: Psalm 101:1-3 I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing. I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. Thought
Scripture: Colossians 1:3-6 In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come